Atco is done

[Chevy55]

I believe the lawsuit over the racer being killed a few years back that caused Atco to change ownership was the final nail in the coffin for the track. Since that time they've been entertaining offers and managed to get a favorable zoning change to get the price they wanted.
That's the way I see it.

[Dave Gantz]

Originally Posted by rboyle

It’s a business. If anyone set this business model up for review by an investor how do you think it would go?
I have roughly 50-100 acres of land and open for business 3 to four days a week. My business sees roughly 100-250 customers per day we are open but most of those customers purchase the minimum such as food, drink tshirts and souvenir's. My maintenance crew includes an ambulance with emt a-tractor, tow truck, along with roughly 5 to 10 support vehicles, trash removal, epa inspections, noise complaints, law suits, curfews and if the weather doesn’t cooperate I have to give makeup dates or refunds. But I do it for my customers because I am passionate about it even though most of my loyal customers only patronize my business twice a year.
What would most or all of us do then if an offer Don Corleone put together would eliminate all those headaches and let us live the lifestyle most consider rich?
Just understand what we do is not a good business model for most and the amount of bashing that goes on is really sour grapes.
Many a racer will go to a race, park on test n tune day but skip the tnt so they don’t have to pay for it, park their motor home and stacker across the equivalent of 4 spots, buy race fuel from an outside source instead of the speed shop on premise, bring food in the motor home and grill it up in the pit, dump it in the race tracks garbage change the oil and dump it in the race tracks oil repository. Never visit the concession stand or t shirt stand, and expect the track to have a manned gate all night to accommodate the comings and goings of them and their crew. Then break the rules like no minors driving pit vehicles, or no noise before or after a curfew, or don’t dump your RV waste here. Top it off with rudeness and complaining about track conditions in person and on social media platforms. I include myself in some of these abuses.
We have to be better customers. It’s an expensive sport, hobby, business or whatever but let’s not abuse the privilege when given it.
Sorry if I offended anyone but have empathy for the track owners, most started doing it in spite of the bad business model that it is because they were passionate about racing too

I agree with you. I can't imagine what it takes to keep a track running and profitable.
Considering everything you said, why would anyone own a drag strip? Why do they exist?

As an aside, I agree with the others who say that tracks that don't advertise and use imagination in creating events can't complain about low revenues. I went to Atco on occasion to play with my street/strip cars. (I've been a fan of SS/S since the early 70's and raced Stock in the mid 90's) I can't tell you how many people would say, "Is Atco still there?", when I tell them I went there.

I'm outside of the Phila. area. In the recent past did they ever advertise? Years ago, they advertised the wheelie guys, funny cars, jet cars, etc. Like it or not, that stuff draws more than S/SS.

Does anyone know if Len Capone was a racer, or at least an enthusiast? I'd hate to be the guy who sold one of the most iconic drag strips in the country.

[Nick Heath]

He did race an Alcohol Funny Car back in the day. What happened since then is anybody's guess.

[Steve1118]

All of that is true. Add to that the hidden costs, real estate and amusement taxes, Workman's Comp insurance for employees. Plus, track prep. A close friend has a large facility in western Pa., and he has $3K in spray and track prep for a quarter mile race before he sends a car down. If it rains, kiss that $ goodbye. And, right now there is a shortage of that stuff. One of the big reasons they are going to 8th mile. Insurance? You bet. In today's world daddy big bucks can buy his 17 year old kid a 1000hp Challenger and turn him loose. The cars are just so fast. The other night some kid had a high end Tesla at test and tune that ran 9.50s at 150 mph. Another reason for 8th mile. Any $ he makes comes from special shows, bracket racing pretty much breaks even because local business pretty much pays the purse for each class. Entries and what gate there is covers pretty much the rest, plus the sale of t-shirts, trinkets, stuff like that. There are a number of class racers in the area, and he gets zippo support from any of them, although it is a first class facility. He does it because he's a good guy, and he loves this sport. As far as a business model, it stinks, frankly, and I can't help but notice that the tracks that are in trouble are these big time facilities, Atlanta, Houston, Atco (greater Philly, NY), because they have big bills to cover. The ones that are doing OK are the out of the way 8th mile tracks without a lot of overhead. Just an observation.

[Dan Bennett]

I agree that running a dragstrip in 2023 is a very risky thing. But as for low/no profits due to the lack of spectators I get a bit confused. There is a classic textbook on how to make that work.

I doubt there is single operator in the US who doesn't know about the Baders. For years, they have sold out events. And from having covered events there along with renting the track for musclecar shows, I honestly have to say it's not a great track just by itself. Resort area means ludicrous prices for food and lodging with most some distance away on 2 lane roads. Close to a great lake so weather can be iffy.

But they make it work by closely watching what both racers and spectators want. And then doing whatever is necessary to keep improving.

I guess there is a chance that the money for improvements and advertising is just not there for most operators by now. But even after decades of loving class cars, I am positive you have to give the general public something that makes them think "I'd like to see that". We all know how great Stockers and Super Stockers are, both in the pits and on the track. Until you can get people into the place, they will not have a chance to realize that and continue to have no idea.

[Steve1118]

Spectators are not where the money is made, though the more the better. Spectators actually are way to measure interest and exposure. The money comes primarily from local business partners. The Baders are masters at that. That is how WDRA came to be. The group is basically a group of owners whose primary goal is to run profitable businesses.

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by Steve1118

Spectators are not where the money is made, though the more the better. Spectators actually are way to measure interest and exposure. The money comes primarily from local business partners. The Baders are masters at that. That is how WDRA came to be. The group is basically a group of owners whose primary goal is to run profitable businesses.

Spectators are the track operators best revenue stream. The racers pay their own way. entry fees pretty much cover the purse and some overhead. Most racers bring at least 2 people with them as crew or friends. The track can make some money off of the spectators even if the gate price was $10/head and you get 200 spectators there that 2K in the track operators pocket with no outlay. Plus if you can sell them some beer, soda and hot dogs that helps as well. watching a bracket race with a bunch of dragsters is like watching paint dry. Most of the track operators do not do any sort of advertisement. There is lots of free places to advertise. Local news should be notified of special events at the track. All kinds of social media that can be used for no cost just some time.
Unfortunately, people are not as interested in cars as they used to be. Look at Stock and Super stock. most of us are well north of 50 years old. There are some 2nd and 3rd generation racers out there but not nearly enough to sustain the sport. Cost to build, maintain, transport, and actually race a car like ours is out of the reach of most young people today. That why I am always a champion of not lowering the indexes. Keep it to where a person with a decent job could get involved in class racing.

[Steve1118]

Spectators are the gravy, but not the operator's bread and butter.

[Dave Gantz]

Originally Posted by Steve1118

There are a number of class racers in the area, and he gets zippo support from any of them, although it is a first class facility.


As far as a business model, it stinks, frankly, and I can't help but notice that the tracks that are in trouble are these big time facilities, Atlanta, Houston, Atco (greater Philly, NY), because they have big bills to cover. The ones that are doing OK are the out of the way 8th mile tracks without a lot of overhead. Just an observation.

Local tracks, in general, have a (possibly) unearned reputation for not having a well prepped track on test, grudge, etc., nights. Class racers can't spend the money and time to chance a surface that may not be ultimate.


The real estate near the big cities is probably more valuable to the owners, giving an incentive to sell.

[Steve1118]

[QUOTE=Dave Gantz;683294]Local tracks, in general, have a (possibly) unearned reputation for not having a well prepped track on test, grudge, etc., nights. Class racers can't spend the money and time to chance a surface that may not be ultimate.


Oh, yes, I forgot. Class racers are much too important to race with commoners. Ler the Top Sportsman cars do that. My mistake. A friend ran the Tri State S/SS series in PA and Ohio, and it folded from lack of support. He eventually allowed NMCA NSS cars, which carried it for a while, but eventually gave it up. Worked hard it, paid a good purse, too. The last event he had at a top notch facility, it drew 2 (two) legal class cars. And, the track never charged admission to the competitors, the circuit handled all of it. Frankly, and with all due respect, I think your attitude sums up the problem.